News | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

CHRD Releases “They Target My Human Rights Work as a Crime”: Annual Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in China (2016)

February 16, 2017 Comments Off

Promoting and protecting human rights remained a high-risk activity in 2016, says CHRD in its annual report released today on the situation of human rights defenders in China, They Target My Human Rights Work as a Crime. The Chinese government intensified crackdowns on human rights defenders (HRDs) and criminalized rights (read more…)

China: Investigate Torture Allegations of Detained Lawyer Xie Yang, Hold Torturers Accountable

January 24, 2017 Comments Off

CHRD calls on the Chinese government to promptly and impartially investigate torture allegations made by detained human rights lawyer Xie Yang (谢阳), and reiterates our persistent demand for the unconditional and immediate release of all incarcerated rights lawyers.

[CHRB] Eleven Activists Remain Forcibly Disappeared in Shenzhen, at Risk of Torture in Police Custody (1/5-1/12/2017)

January 12, 2017 Comments Off

Eleven activists in the city of Shenzhen remain forcibly disappeared since police seized them between November 15 and December 8. Three of them are confirmed to be under “residential surveillance” and suspected of “subversion of state power.”

[CHRB] Wukan Protesters Imprisoned; Church Pastor Tried on “State Secrets” Charge (12/24/2016-1/4/2017)

January 5, 2017 Comments Off

On December 26, nine residents of Wukan Village in Guangdong were given prison sentences for protesting the persecution of a local leader, and a court in Guizhou secretly tried church pastor Yang Hua on a “state secrets” charge. Also, Hangzhou democracy activist Lü Gengsong is suffering from poor health in (read more…)

China: Release Activist Chen Yunfei, End Persecution of Free Expression

December 23, 2016 Comments Off

China must immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Chen Yunfei (陈云飞) instead of putting Chen on trial, which is scheduled for December 26 at the Wuhou District Court in Chengdu. The court notified his lawyer, Liu Zhengqing (刘正清), that Chen will stand trial on the charge of “picking quarrels (read more…)

China: Free Rights Lawyer Jiang Tianyong, Investigate His Enforced Disappearance and Torture

December 16, 2016 Comments Off

After forcibly disappearing the human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong for 25 days, Chinese authorities finally confirmed that he is in police custody under “compulsory criminal measures.” CHRD asks the Chinese government to immediately release Jiang Tianyong, on the grounds that his detention is clearly arbitrary.

China Must Release Jiang Tianyong, Liu Feiyue & Huang Qi, Honor Commitment Made at UN to Protect Rights

November 30, 2016 Comments Off

CHRD urges the Chinese government to release three prominent civil society leaders whose cases of deprived liberty further signal the escalation of President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on human rights activism.

A Mid-term Assessment of China’s Implementation of 2013 UPR Recommendations

November 22, 2016 Comments Off

Three years after the October 2013 UPR review of China, Chinese NGOs have released a report assessing China’s implementation of the recommendations put forward by UN Member States. The report finds large discrepancies between the government’s promises and its actions. Human rights conditions and safeguards in China have slightly improved (read more…)

[CHRB] Candidates Obstructed in Violation of Chinese Election Law (10/21-11/3, 2016)

November 4, 2016 Comments Off

In several cites in China, authorities have intimidated, harassed, and detained citizens who have declared their “independent candidacy” in this year’s elections of delegates to local people’s congresses.

UN Member States: Vote “No” and End China’s Membership on UN Human Rights Council

October 25, 2016 Comments Off

CHRD urges UN Member States to vote against China’s re-election to the Human Rights Council on October 28 at the UN headquarters in New York. States should vote according to international human rights standards, and take into consideration China’s rapidly deteriorating human rights situation.

[CHRB] Anti-Corruption Activist Imprisoned, Police Put Down Mass Environmental Protests in Xi’an (10/14-20, 2016)

October 20, 2016 Comments Off

Activist Cheng Kangming was handed a 4½-year prison sentence on October 18, likely in retaliation for exposing official corruption in Zhejiang. Over one thousand armed police in Xi’an crushed a massive protest against a planned waste incinerator plant on October 16.

[CHRB] Young Activist Imprisoned for 5 Years for Political Crime, Guangdong Activist Detained for “Fraud” (10/7-13, 2016)

October 13, 2016 Comments Off

In cases of Guangdong activists, Huang Wenxun has been given a 5-year sentence for exercising his right to peaceful assembly, while Xiao Yuhui was criminally detained after assisting victims of family-planning policies.